Collecting mechanism



7 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS Attawwys July 18,1944. D. W.'MOLINS ET AL COLLECTING MECHANISM Filed May 15, 1942 64/ wwww July 18, 1944. D. w. MOLIINS ET AL COLLECTING MECHANISM Filed May l5,-l942 '7 Sheets-Sheet 2 f/rToR/YEXS July 18, 1944. D. w. MOLINS ET AL COLLECTING MECHANISM m E a MW Wm m HHW y D. W. MOLINS ET AL COLLECTING MECHANISM Filed May 15, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 n Q) Q4791 M INVENTOAS m Ma hzzo roR/YEYs July 18, 1944.

D. w. MOLINS ET AL 2,354,040

COLLECTING MECHANISM Filed May 15, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 July 18,1944;

7 Sheets- Sheet 6 Filed May 15, 1942 |||||||Il|||||lllll||l 1| (Ill Illlllllllll lllllIlI D. w. MOLINS ET AL COLLECTING MECHANISM July '18, 1944.

l 18, 1944- D W. MOLINS ET AL 7 2,354,040

COLLECTING MECHANISM Fild May 15, 1942 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented July 18, 1944 COLLECTING lVlECHANISM Desmond Walter Molins and Flix FrdricRuau, Deptford, London, England, assignors to Molins Machine Company, Limited, London, England Application May 15, 1942, Serial No. 443,175 In Great Britain May 8, 1941 14 Claims.

This invention concerns improvements in or relating to collecting mechanism of the kind in which rod shaped articles, e. g., cigarettes, are during movement in a direction transverse to their longitudinal axes, delivered into a receptacle, which latter is movable in a manner such that articles are delivered first into one end of a receptacle and thereafter to successive positions along the length of the receptacle as the'leading end of the latter becomes filled approximately to the desired extent. will be referred to below as "collecting mechanism of the kind referred to.

The expression the depth of the articles means herein the depth of the articles at the measured part and is considered in a direction transverse to the direction in which the articles are being moved and transverse to the lengths of the articles.

According to the invention there is provided collecting mechanism of the kind referred to, wherein articles are fed through a predetermined path between elements, one of which is movable to a predetermined position when the depth of the articles attains a predetermined amount, and wherein control means operable in response to the movement of the movable element increases the speed of the receptacle when the movable element reaches the said predetermined position.

Further according to the invention there is provided collecting mechanism of the kind referred "to, wherein articles are fed through a predetermined path between elements, one of which is movable between two predetermined positions according to the depth of the articles and wherein control-means operable in response to the movement of the movable element increases the speed of the receptacle or retards the receptacle as the depth of the articles increases or decreases as the case may be.

, The control-means may be operable to cause the movement of the receptacle to stopor become extremely slow when the movable element moves to that one of the two predetermined positions when the depth of the articles is at a predetermined minimum.

Further according to the present invention there is provided a variable speed driving mechanism (e. g., to comprise said control-means) which mechanism comprises in combination, a reciprocable member, a reciprocable abutment carried thereby, an adjustable abutment mounted on a separate part of the mechanism and movable to different positions in each of which it is arranged to engage the reciprocable abutment,

Such collecting mechanism.

the abutments being arranged to vary the stroke of the reciprocable member according to the'po sition of the adjustable abutment, and ratchet mechanism operatively coupled to the reciproca- .ble member, the adjustable abutment being arranged to move with the movable element. An oscillating member may be arranged to drive the reciprocable member of the variable speed driving mechanism in that direction in which the reciprocable abutment is moved away from the adjustable abutment, the reciprocable member being moved in the reverse direction by a return spring. The said abutments of the variable speed driving mechanism may comprise stepped and sharp elements respectively, whereby movement of the adjustable abutment varies the stroke of the reciprocable member,

Further according to the invention there is provided for use with receptacles having obstacles at the ends of or between successive receptacles, collecting mechanism as set forth in any of the paragraphs succeeding the second paragraph hereof, wherein the articles are directed into the receptacle by a downwardly inclined guide which projects into the receptacle and wherein a part at least of the inclined guide is movable upwardly for the purpose of raising the bottom of said guide above the obstacles, and wherein lifting mechanism is provided to raise the bottom of said guide, said lifting mechanism including detectonmeans to actuate or cause the actuation ofthe lifting mechanism to raise the bottom of said guide to avoid the obstacles. The detectormeansmay comprise a pivoted element adapted to be moved by an element arranged to be movable in timed relationship with the receptacle. The bottom portion of the inclined guide may be movable relatively to the upper portion thereof for the purpose of raising thebottom of the guide above the obstacles.

Further according to the invention there is provided (e. g., in combination with collecting mechanism as set forth in any of the paragraphs succeeding the second paragraph hereof), apparatus for feeding rod shaped articles, e. g., cigarettes, wherein articles are fed through a predetermined path between opposed surfaces in a direction transverse to their longitudinal axes, one of said surfaces being movable towards and away from the other byv articles moving in said predetermined path, wherein pusher pieces of a conveyor project into said path to assist in movingthe articles therealong, and wherein there is provided driving mechanism for said conveyor, and interrupter means operable by said'movable surface to arrest the conveyor when the distance between the opposed surfaces reaches a predetermined minimum. A coupling, e. g. a clutch, may be interposed between the conveyor and the driving mechanism, said coupling being adapted to be interrupted by the movable surface. The coupling may comprise a clutch having a toothed wheel operatively connected therewith, a pawl movable with said movable surface being adapted to engage the toothed wheel for the purpose of arresting the conveyor.

Collecting mechanism made in accordance with the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings which show collecting mechanism for collecting cigarettes as they issue from a continuous rod type cigarette making machine and in which- Figure 1 is a small scale elevation of diagrammatic form, showing mechanism constructed according to the invention.

Figure 1A is a view in the direction of arrow A of the end portion of Figure 1.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of part of the delivery end or catcher band of a continuous rod cigarette making machine with feeding apparatus according to the invention adapted thereto. The front frame of the apparatus is omitted and some parts are shown in section and some broken away. a

Figure 3 is a View of part of Figure 2v taken in the direction of the arrow B.

Figure 4 is a plan of Figure 2.

Figure 5 shows details of a clutch shown in Figure 4.

Figures 6A and 63 together constitute a side elevation of the collecting mechanism, the views joining up on the line II.

Figure 6C is a section of part of Figure GA on the line CC.

Figures 7A and 7B are plans of Figures 6A and 6B respectively, the views joining up on the line 11-11.

Figure 7C is a fragment detached from Figure 7A to avoidobscurity.

Figure 8 shows details of shown on Figures 6A and 7A.

Figure 9, is a sectional side elevation of Figure 8.

Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 4; cigarettes I, Figure 1, as they issue from the cigarette making machine are delivered on to an endless band 2 commonly known as a catcher band. The cigarettes are moved by the catcher band in the direction of the arrow and transverse to the lengths of the cigarettes. During this movement the cigarettes are controlled laterally by walls 3 and for the purpose of correcting and maintaining alignment of the cigarettes during transit, these walls, or parts thereof, are moved towards and away from one another. It will be seen from Figures 1 and 2 that the catcher band, at its delivery end, dips downwardly, being guided by rollers 4 and 5 which are rotatably mounted in frames 6 of the feeding apparatus. To allow time for visual inspection of the cigarettes the catcher band is driven more slowly than is customary so that the cigarettes are de flected on to it in two or three layers as indicated in Figure 1. The cigarettes move down the incline and are delivered on to the upper surface of a fixed guide plate "I. That end of the guide plate which is remote from the catcher a friction clutch band is forked, see Figure 4, and between the forked ends 8 of the guide plate there is located a conveyor which comprises a rotatable paddle wheel 9, having paddles Ifl constituting pushers, said wheel being arranged to assist the movement of the cigarettes along a predetermined path between fixed and movable elements. The upper portion of the paddle wheel is arranged to extend into the path of the cigarettes from below and the wheel rotates in the direction of the arrow, Figures 1 and 2, so that the paddles which extend into the path of the cigarettes move in the same general direction as the cigarettes approaching the paddle wheel. The cigarettes are moved over the fixed guide plate towards the paddle wheel by the weight of the following cigarettes being fed thereto and by the forward movement imparted to the cigarettes by the catcher band 2. The cigarettes, as they move from the catcher band to the fixed guide plate I, pass beneath a flexible element II, supported at l2 in side plates [3. This flexible element is preferably transparent, for example, made of thin Celluloid and it is arranged to straighten the cigarettes on the band, i. e., to ensure that the longitudinal axes of the cigarettes are substantially normal to the direction of movement of the band. A member I4 is pivoted in the side plates at I5 and adapted to press on the flexible element which is provided with a stiffener H; for this purpose, the part It also serving to straighten the cigarettes.

The paddle wheel urges the cigarettes towards a downwardly depending element in the form of r a flexible strip I! which is supported at one end at If) and weighted by a weight I9 at the other. This strip is arranged to guide the cigarettes downwardly towards a downwardly inclined guide indicated generally by the reference 20 and the end of which projects into the receptacle RI, Figure 1, which is to receive the cigarettes. This guide will be described in greater detail later. The flexible strip H which is made of thin Celluloid also tends to ensure that the cigarettes are properly delivered to the receptacle, i. e. with their longitudinal axes substantially parallel with the bottom of the receptacle.

Referring now briefly to Figures 1, 6A, 63, 7A

and thereafter to successive positions along the receptacle as the leading end of the latter becomes filled approximately to the desired extent.

The side plates previously mentioned when describing Figures 2 and 4 have guide members I25 which guide the upper edge of a receptacle as it is being filled. The conveyor-mechanism comprises a pair of side by side endless chains ill the upper runs of which convey the recepta-' The conveyor chains are driven by con-' The nism of the cigarette making machine through the medium of a clutch so that when desired, the

rotation of the paddle wheel may be interrupted without interrupting the running of the cigarette making machine. The fixed guide plate I over which the cigarettes are moved towards the paddle wheel, is opposed'by a further guide formed b'y the flexible element H. The guide surface thus constituted is movable towards and away from the fixed guide plate by the cigarettes passing' between the opposed surfaces of the fixed and moving elements. Thus, the movable surface moves'towards and away from the fixed surface as the depth of the'cigarettes above the fixed guide plat decreases or increases. The pivoted presser I4 follows the movement of the movable guide surface formed by the flexible element H thus moving the pivot l5. Secured to the pivot spindle for movement therewith is a bent lever 22 adapted to lift a pawl lever 23 which is freely mounted on the pivot spindle and has at its free end a pawl or tooth 24 adapted to engage with grooves or notches 25 of a wheel 25 connected with the clutch which couples the paddle wheel to the cigarette machine driving mechanism. Thus, when the depthof the cigarettes between the opposed surfaces falls to a predetermined minimum the pawl engages the grooved wheel and causes the clutch to be broken thus arresting the movement of the paddle wheel while the cigarette making machine still continues to operate. Since cigarette making machine still continues to operate, cigarettes will continue to be delivered between the opposed guide surfaces and when the latter have been moved apart again, so that the depth of the cigarettes between the surfaces reaches a predetermined amount, the pawl 24 will be released from a notch of the wheel 25 and the clutchwill again operate to drive the paddle wheel.

- The arrangements for driving the paddle wheel will now be described in more detail: The catcher band 2 is driven, as is usual, by the cigarette making machine. On the spindle 27 of the band roller is fixed a sprocket wheel 28 which drives a larger sprocket wheel 2G by means of a chain 30. The sprocket 29 is freely rotatable on the spindle 3| of the paddle Wheel 9. As is shown best in Figure 5, the sprocket wheel carries a pawl 32 pivoted at 33 and held in the position shown in the figure by a spring 34. The operative end of the pawl engages 2. lug 35 formed on a disc 36 which is fixed to the spindle 3 l. The disc is pro vidcd with three such lugs. When the pawl 24 arrests the wheel 26, the clutch described easily breaks out and as soon as the wheel 25 is freed again the clutch picks up the drive.

The cigarettes passing from between the opposedguide surfaces formed by the members I and il'cause the latter and also the downwardly depending flexible strip I! to bulge away from the axis of rotation of the paddle wheel as shown in Figure 1 according to the volume of cigarettes being delivered. The arrangement of the mechanism as described below is such that a predetermined minimum reserve or surplus of cigarettes is always maintained above the cigarettes in the receptacle being filled, the reserve or surplus being, of course, supported by the cigarettes in the receptacle. In order to maintain the desired reserve or surplus, the flexible strip ll as it bulges, is moved into engagement with a movable element which comprises a plate 31 pivotally mounted at 38 in the side plates 13 so that it lies in the path of th flexible strip as the latter moves. The pivoted plate 31 is freely mounted so as to be movable towards and away from the axis of rotationof the paddle wheel by the cigarettes passing between the movable element II and the paddle wheel.

The movable element 31 is connected with control-means which are operable in response to the movement of the movable element to increase the speed ofthe receptacle or to retard the receptacle as the depth of the articles increases or decreases as the case may be. To the pivot spindle 38 on which the movable element is fixedly mounted, there is secured one end of a lever 39, the free end of the lever being pivotally connected at 40 to one end of a rod 4|. The other end of the rod is connected with a variable speed driving mechanism which is adapted to drive the conveyor-mechanism on which the receptacles are supported.

The conveyor-mechanism and its drive will be described later after some of the remaining details shown in Figures 1 and 4 have been referred to.

In advance of the plate 31 there is a further pivoted device. This comprises two levelling elements 42 which are fixed to a plate 43 pivotally mounted in the side plates l3. The point of attachment between the members 42 and the plate 43 may be altered to alter the height of the operativ ends of the levelling elements. These elements serve to stroke the cigarettes and bring them to a desired level in a filled receptacle. An adjustable counterweight 44 is provided to allow for varying the pressure exerted by the levelling elements and a stop 45 prevents their moving too far upwardly.

The plate 1 is perforated to permit any dust from th cigarettes to escape and slide down a plate 4-3 which leads into a drawer 41 slidably mounted beneath the frames 6.

Referring now to Figures 6A to 9, the endless chains 2| of the conveyor-mechanism pass around idler sprocket wheels 48 at one end and over guide sprocket wheels 49 to driving sprocket wheels 50 at the opposite end. These sprocket wheels are supported in th frame 5| of the collecting mechanism the wheels 48 and 49 rotating on pins 52 and 53 respectively, while the wheel 50 is fixed to a driving shaft 54 journalled in bearings 55. The frame has a conveyor track 56 comprising two chain support rails 51. This is best seen in Figure which shows a typical cross section of the frame. The frame is further provided with a guide ledge 58 which guides one side of a receptacle and on the opposite side of the frame and at a higher level is fixed a guide plate 59 which guides the other side of a receptacle. This plate is broken away at various places to disclose other parts. A flat surface 6!] supports the receptacles during transit along the frame.

The receptacles are carried along the frame by pawls I22 and 123 attached to the chains. Three sets of such pawls are used, see Figure 1. The pawl I22 is adapted to engage the rear end of a receptacle as shown in Figure 63, While the pawl I23 engages the rear of the leading end of the next receptacle. The former pawl is pivoted to the chains and comes into its operative position as it rises through the aperture in the frame and passes over the base of the conveyor track 56. The pawl I23 is furnished with a spring I24 which normally retains it in the operative position as it passes along the conveyor track but permits it to depress as a receptacle is slid over it (i. e., when a new receptacle is pushed on to the frame).

The frame is adjustably bolted to two support brackets 6| which are bolted to a horizontal base plate 62. It will be noticed that the frame is located at a slight angle to the horizontal so that the receptacles travel uphill during filling and this angle may be set correctly, for reasons which will appear later, by adjusting screws 63.

The driving sprocket wheels 50 are connected with variable speed driving mechanism which in turn is driven from the main drive of the cigarette making machine. The driving sprocket wheels 50 are, as aforesaid, fixed to the shaft 54 which is rotated by a friction-ratchet mechanism which forms a part of the variable speed driving mechanism. On the shaft 54 there is also provided a hand-wheel I21 and a pair of friction blocks are fixed to the frame 5| and engage the shaft to constitute a brake I28 and prevent overrunning. The ratchet mechanism which is best shown in Figures 8 and 9 comprises a rotatable member 64 fixed on the shaft 54 supporting the driving sprocket wheels, the rotatable member being provided with peripheral steps or grooves 65, each of which has substantially radial faces and in each of which is located a roller 66 which is spring urged away from one radial face of the step by springs 61. The rotatable member is enclosed in a sleeve 63 which is movable relatively to the rotatable member 64. The sleeve is provided with a projection or lug 69 which is pivotally connected at H3 with a reciprocable member comprising a bar 'H. A slot 12, Figure 6A, extending lengthwise of the bar is formed in the bar at that end of the bar which is remote from the position at which the bar is connected with the said sleeve 68. A pin 13 supported by one arm T4 of a two-armed lever is arranged to be movable in the slot. The two-armed lever is pivoted at 75 in a bracket 16 which is secured to a gear box ll fixed on the side of the frame of the collecting mechanism and the lever is oscillated about its pivot by a crank disc 18 having a crank pin 19. A connecting rod 89 thereon is pivoted at 8! to the other arm 82 of the lever. The crank disc is driven from the main drive of the cigarette making machine in the following manner:

In Figure 7B there is shown a pulley 83 which is attached to a rotatable member 84 of the cigarette making machine. A belt 85 transmits motion from the pulley 83 to a pulley 86 which is fixed on a spindle 8'! journalled in the gear box. A jockey pulley 88 is provided for adjusting the belt. On the spindle 81 there is fixed a spiral gear Wheel 89 which engages with a similar wheel $28 which is fixed to a worm-shaft 9| also journalled in the gear box. This shaft carries a worm 82 which engages with a worm-wheel 93 which is fixed on a spindle 94 which carries the crank disc 78.

The two-armed lever is arranged to move the bar in one direction to drive the friction-ratchet by the engagement of the pin 13 with one end of the slot '12 and the return movement of the bar iseffected by a spring 95.

In order to vary the stroke of the bar, the latter is provided at the end opposite to that which is provided with the slot, with an abutment- 96 which is mounted on the upper surface of the bar so as to be reciprocable therewith. This reciprocableabutment is provided with an inclined face having anumber of fine teeth or steps ill, the inclined face being directed towards the pivotof the two-armed lever. The inclined face of the reciprocable abutment makes an angle of approximately 60 with the horizontal. Thus, as the bar is 'reciprocated, the toothed abutment is moved towards or away from the pivot of the two armed lever.

An adjustable abutment which comprises a knife-edged plate 98 is pivotally mounted at 98 on the bracket 16 which supports the spindle 15 on which the two-armed lever is pivoted. The knife-edge of the adjustable abutment is directed towards the teeth of the reciprocable abutment and is arranged to engage with the teeth of the latter. The hub of the adjustable abutment is connected by a bracket I00 with the rod 4| which is operated by the movable element described above with reference to Figure 2 so that the adjustable abutment is moved in response to movement of the movable element. A nut l0| is provided for adjustment of the rod 4| relatively to the bracket I00. Thus, as the movable element moves towards and away from the paddle wheel, the position of the knife-edged adjustable abutment 98 is altered relatively to the inclined surface of the reciprocable abutment. According to the position of the adjustable abutment, so the stroke of the reciprocable bar II will be varied and consequently the rate at which the driving sprocket wheels are rotated is also varied. The arrangement of the variable speed driving mechanism is such that when the adjustable abutment engages the lowest tooth on the reciprocable abutment, the driving sprocket wheels have practically no angular movement. If desired, of course, the arrangement may be such that when the lowest tooth of the reciprocable abutment is engaged by the adjustable abutment, the driving sprocket wheels cease to be rotated. It is, however, preferred that the rotation of the driving sprockets shall not completely stop. because it might so happen that the adjustable abutment will jam in the bottom tooth or" the reciprocable abutment, thus causing difficulty in restarting the mechanism if the latt r is completely stopped.

In most cases the receptacles which are to be filled are provided with end walls which have slots formed therein to permit the downwardly inclined guide freely to pass from a receptacle which has been filled to the next succeeding receptacle which is to be filled so as not to interrupt the continuity of the filling of successive receptacles. Some receptacles, however, are so constructed as to have obstacles which prevent the free passage of the inclined guide from one receptacle to the next. One receptacle having such obstacles is the receptacle which is described in co-pending U. S. patent application No. 443,176 of even date, and diagrammatically illustrated herein in Figure l, and which is provided at its ends with projections I02 which are adapted to engage with parts of a packing machine in order to locate the receptacle above the hopper of the packing machine while cigarettes in the receptacle are being emptied into the hopper. These projections form obstacles which would Ioul the bottom of the lined guide. In order that the downwardly inclined guide can be moved from one receptacle into the next succeeding receptacle without interrupting the continuity of the filling operation, a device is provided which enables the downwardly inclined guide to avoid such obstacles. The bottom portion of the inclined guide '29 is thereafter arranged to be movable relatively to the remainder of the guide, such remainder being fixed to a bracket secured to the frame of the collecting mechanism. Referring to Figures 2 and 3 it will be seen that the guide 20 comprises a fixed guide plate |03 which is attached to 8'.

bracket I34 fixed to the frames 6. The lower {part of the guide plate I03 has two angle pieces I05 fixed to its sides. These form guides for a slidable plate III-6 which lies behind the fixed guide plate. A flap IZI made of cloth is attached to the bottom of the plate I06. The plate IE6 is attached to one end of a flexible wire Iii? which passes over pulleys I98 and IE9 and through guides III! and III, and at its other end is connected to a detector on the collecting mechanism.

The detector means comprise an element or pawl II2 which is pivoted at I It to a bracket I M mounted on the frame of the collecting mechanism. Another lever arm I I 5 fixed to the pivoted member H2 is connected with the movable bottom portion of the downwardly inclined guideby means. of the wire cable Illl. The pivoted element is moved by a block Iliii carried by the conveyor mechanism so as to be movable with the receptacle. As the rear wall of the receptacle approaches the downwardly inclined guide, the block on the conveyor causes the pivoted element tobe moved angularly about its pivot so that the movable bottom portion I98 of the guide 211 is gradually moved upwardly until it is raised to a position above the projection at the rear end of the receptacle. 'As the receptacle continues its forward movement, the movable portion of the inclined guide moves on to the leading projection on the next succeeding receptacle. Four blocks II6 are shown, their number depending on the length of time necessary for the guide to remain in the up position. The receptacles are so positioned on the conveyor-mechanism that the top of the rear end of the leading receptacle abuts the top of the next succeeding receptacle so that the cigarettes cannot pass between two receptacles. While the movable bottom portion of the inclined guide is being moved over the projections, the last block IIB has become disengaged from the pivoted element so that when the movable bottom portion Illfi of the inclined guide reaches the inner edge of the leading projection on the said next succeeding receptacle, the movable bottom portion of the guide moves downwardly into the said succeeding receptacle due to the action of gravity.

As the control of the lifting devices is a matter of some delicacy, all the parts just described for performing the lifting are provided with adjustments where possible, but these are obvious from the drawings and need no description.

A device is provided for operating a warning device, for example a signal lamp, or for stopping the cigarette machine motor if a fresh receptacle is needed on the conveyor. This consists of an electric switch adapted for operation by the moving receptacles and in the present case is adapted merely to light a lamp. The switch is contained in a box Ill fixed on a support IIB, which is in turn fixed on top of the plate 58. In Figure 7C the parts are shown vertically above their real position on Figure 7A, but the position can be readily understood as the bolts in Figure 70 fit the holes Vertically beneath them in Figure 7A. The switch is operated by a spring arm us having a fibre rubbing strip I28 on its face. The edge of this strip is outlined and hatched in Figure 7A. When a receptacle is in position the spring arm is pressed outwards and the lamp is out. As soon as the last receptacle passes the rubbing strip, the lamp lights up and gives the warning.

The general principles of the mechanism wiil be apparent from the foregoing description and the following brief instructions will complete the explanation of the method of operating, and describe a few further parts onlyshown in Figure 1. The receptacles RI, R2, R3 travel in the direction of the arrow, Figure 1, beneath the feeding devices. Guides I26 on the receptacles co-opcrate with the similar guides I25 on the side plates I3 and control the tops of the receptacles laterally. Should the supply of cigarettes fail for any reason, the receptacles will cease to move or move extremely slowly. If the supply is resumed, cigarettes accumulate between the paddle wheel 9 and the flexible element II until the member I I lifts, the clutch 32-36 engages and the paddles revolve. This carries the cigarettes beneath the flexible strip I1 and over the guides 8 and on to the downwardly inclined guide 20. The strip I'I begins to bulge as the cigarettes accumulate and in time the plate 31 lifts and operates the rod 4| which causes the variable speed gear on the conveyor chain drive to alter its ratio so that the chains start to move, or alternatively to increase their speed of movement. The rod 4! is so connected to the plate 98 that a rise of about 1 /2 inches may take place in the rod before the plate 98 begins to lift. Thereafter, further upward movement of the rod causes the gear to drive the conveyor sprockets 50, or to increase their speed, as the case ma be. The receptacles then move intermittently, the speed being automatically variable with the rate of flow of cigarettes to a receptacle.

In setting up the machine, a receptacle is placed on the frame 5! and pushed forward until its leading edge is approximately in the position of that of the receptacle R2 in Figure 1. The hand Wheel I21, Figure 7A, is then turned until the spring pawl I23 engages the rear of the leading edge of the receptacle. If necessary the receptacle may be lifted slightly to get it past the pawl. The receptacle is slowly advanced by movement of the hand wheel until the receptacle is located in the position where the receptacle RI is shown in Figure 1. The leading chain block III; of a set should then be pressing against the pawl I I2 sufliciently to tension the wire Ill'I. Further movement of the hand wheel will lift the sliding plate I 06. Another receptacle is then put on the frame and pushed forward until it touches the first when the two receptacles marked RI and R2 in Figure 1 will be in their proper positions. Movement of the hand wheel will now permit the plate I06 to fall on the ledge L of the receptacle R2. The receptacles are then moved slightly apart to insert a starting box I29 and then closed up again. The starting box consists of a piece of wood having two spaced hooks I30 at one end and screws I3I at the other so that it can be supported as shown by the receptacle RI. The weight I9 then rests on the inclined guide 26 as shown.

The machine is now started up under power and. cigarettes begin to accumulate, first under the flexible element II and secondly under the flexible strip I I. Then they fall into the starting box I29 and accumulate until they start pushing the levelling elements 42 against the stop 45. The movable plate 37 then begins to move up until the 1 /2 inches lost motion in the rod 40 is taken up. Up to this point the receptacles have been stationary or virtually so. Further upward movement of the rod 4i causes the receptacles to start moving and as the chain blocks press on the pawl N2 the sliding plate I06 lifts to allow the obstacle at the rear end of the leading receptacle to pass by. Then as the chain blocks continue their movement the plate I 06 drops on to the ledge L. Further movement of the receptacle causes the plate I06 to drop to its lowest position and the cloth strip I 2i trails along the bottom of the receptacle and guides and straightens the cigarettes. The first receptacle, RI, is not removed until it is entirely clear of the guides I25 and then the cigarettes in the starting box are picked up and put back on the catcher band. Another receptacle, R3, is then pushed on to the frame and when in due course this has passed the rubbing strip I20 the warning lamp lights up and a new receptacle should be immediately added.

In order to accommodate the leading receptacle there is provided an extension I32 which is grooved to guide the receptacles as they are pushed along it. At each side of the extension there are provided grooves which are covered by the plates I33 to form guides for sliding bars I34. The outer ends of these bars are connected by a stirrup I35 to which is attached a plate I36 and a channel shaped guide I 37.

When a receptacle is allowed to remain on the extension until it reaches the end it will engage the stirrup and cause the bars I34 to slide out, the receptacle being supported meanwhile by the plate I36. In this way several filled receptacles may collecton the mechanism if it is inconvenient to remove them more promptly.

Whilst the embodiment described above by way of example concerns mechanism for collecting cigarettes, the invention is applicable to mechanism for collecting other rod-shaped articles, such as rod-shaped filter wads, imitation cigarettes, dummy cigarettes or the like.

What we claim as our invention and desire to claim by Letters Patent is:

1. In apparatus for feeding cigarettes or like articles through a predetermined path in a direction transverse to their length, the combination with means forwarding articles to said path from a source of supply, of means affording opposed surfaces engaging the sides of the articles and defining said path therebetween, at least one of said surfaces being supported for movement toward and away from the other surface by decrease or increase in the number of articles passing between the surfaces, conveyor means movable through a path intersecting said first path for forwarding the articles therein, driving mechanism for said conveyor means, and means operable by said movable surface and connected with said mechanism for interrupting the conveyor drive whenever the distance between said surfaces reache a predetermined minimum whereby a reserve supply of articles is accumulated in said path.

2. In apparatus for feeding cigarettes or like articles through a predetermined path in a direction transverse to their length, the combination with means forwarding articles to said path from a source of supply, of means affording opposed surfaces engaging the sides of the articles and defining said path there-between, at least one of said surfaces being supported for movement toward and away from the other surface by decrease or increase in the number of articles passing between the surfaces, conveyor means movable through a path intersecting said first path for forwarding the articles therein, driving mechanism. for said conveyor means, and means operable by said movable surface and connected with said mechanism for interrupting the conveyor drive Whenever the distance between said surfaces reaches a predetermined minimum, whereby a reserve supply of articles is accumulated in said path said last named means including a releasable coupling drivingly associated with said mechanism, and devices controlled by movement of said movable urface toward the other surface for releasing said coupling.

3. In apparatus for feeding cigarettes or like articles through a predetermined path in a direction transverse to their length, the combination with means forwarding articles to said path from a source of supply, of means affording opposed surface engaging the sides of the articles and defining said path therebetween, at least one of said surfaces being supported for movement toward and away from the other surface by decrease or increase in the number of articles passing between th surfaces, conveyor means movable through a path intersecting said first path for forwarding the articles therein, driving mechanism for said conveyor means, and means operable by said movable surface and connected with said mechanism for interrupting the conveyor drive whenever the distance between said surfaces reaches a predetermined minimum, whereby a reserv supply of article is accumulated in said path said last named means including a torque releasable clutch drivingly associated with said mechanism, and devices operable by said movable surface in response to movement of the latter toward the other surface for retaining said conveyor means against movement.

4. In apparatus for feeding cigarettes or like articles in a direction transverse to their length, the combination with means forwarding articles to said path from a source of supply, of spaced elements engaging the sides of the articles at oppositesides of said path, one of said elements being supported for movement toward and away from the other, conveyor means extending into said path and engaging and advancing the articles therein, driving mechanism for said conveyor means, and means operable by movement of said movable element to stop the conveyor means whenever the distance between spaced elements reaches a predetermined minimum whereby a reserve supply Of articles is accumulated in said path.

5. In apparatus for feeding and collecting cigarettes or like articles, the combination with a receptacle for the article to form a reserve supply, of means feeding articles and discharging articles of the reserve supply from a discharge point into said receptacle, mechanism for moving said receptacle through a predetermined path past said discharge point to distribute the articles within the receptacle, and device operatively connected with said mechanism and responsive to variation in the quantity of articles in the reserve supply and discharged by said first means for regulating said mechanism to alter the rate of movement of said receptacle according to the quantity in the reserve supply.

6. In apparatu for feeding and collecting cigarettes or like articles, the combination with a receptacle for the articles, of means feeding articles through a predetermined path in a direction transverse to the length thereof and discharging the same into said receptacle from a discharge point, mechanism for moving said receptacle past said discharge point to collect and distribute the articles therein, spaced elements engaging the sides of the articles at opposite sides of said path, at least one of said elements being movable toward and away from the other by pressure of the articles passing between the same, and devices operable by movement of said movable element for regulating said mechanism to control the rate of movement of said receptacle.

'7. In apparatus for feeding and collecting cigarettes or like articles, the combination with a receptacle, mechanism for moving said receptacle in a predetermined path, means feeding articles to a discharge point adjacent said path and discharging the same into said receptacle, and devices connected with said mechanism and operable by the articles on variation in the rate at which articles are discharged for varying the rate of movement of the receptacle.

8. In apparatus for feeding and collecting cigarettes or like articles, the combination with a receptacle, mechanism for moving said receptacle in a predetermined path, means feeding articles to a discharge point adjacent said path and discharging the same into said receptacle, said feeding means including a conveyor engaging and advancing the articles toward said discharge point, driving means for said conveyor, devices connected with said driving means and operable by the articles on variation in the number of articles being fed to regulate the operation of said driving means, and devices connected with said mechanism and operable by the articles on variation in the rate at which articles are discharged for varying the rate of movement of the receptacle.

9. In apparatus for feeding and collecting cigarettes or like articles, the combination with a receptacle, mechanism for moving said receptacle in a predetermined path, means feeding accordance with the quantity of articles available for feeding and collecting.

10. In apparatus for feeding and collecting cigarettes or like articles, the combination with a receptacle, mechanism for moving said receptacle in a predetermined path, means feeding articles to a discharge point adjacent said path and discharging the same into said receptacle, spaced elements defining the path in which the articles are fed, one of said elements being movable to-- ward and away from the other in, conformity with variation in the volume of articles therebetween, and devices connected to said mechanism and operable by movement of said movable element to regulate the rate at which said receptacle is moved.

11. In apparatus for feeding cigarettes or like articles through a predetermined path in a direction transverse to their length, the combination with means affording opposed surfaces engaging the sides of the articles and defining said path therebetween, at least one of said surfaces being supported for movement toward and away from the other surface by decrease or increase in the number of articles passing between the surfaces, a receptacle for the articles, means discharging the articles fed through said path into said receptacle from a discharge point, mechanism moving said receptacle past said discharge point during discharge of articles to distribute the articles in the receptacle, and devices controlled by movement of said movable surface for regulating said mechanism to control the rate of movement of the receptacle in accordance with the rate of flow of articles in said path.

12. In apparatus for feeding and collecting cigarettes or like articles, the combination with a receptacle, mechanism for moving said receptacle in a predetermined path, means feeding articles to a discharge point adjacent said path and discharging the same into said receptacle, and receptacle controlled means operable to give an indication in advance of the movement of a receptacle beyond the discharge point.

13. In apparatus for feeding and collecting cigarettes or like articles, the combination with a receptacle, mechanism for moving said receptacle in a predetermined path, means feeding articles to a discharge point adjacent said path and discharging the same into said receptacle, guide means having a slidable part extending into the receptacle to direct the discharging articles therein, said slidable part being retractible to clear an obstacle adjacent the end of the receptacle, and means operable with movement of the receptacle to retract said guide means on the approach of the obstacle.

14. In apparatus for feeding and collecting cigarettes or like articles, the combination with a receptacle, mechanism for moving said receptacle in a predetermined path, means feeding articles to a discharge point adjacent said path and discharging the same into said receptacle, guide means having a slidable part extending into the receptacle to direct the discharging articles therein, and means operable by said mechanism as the receptacle approaches and recedes from said guide means for first retracting said slida'ole part so as to clear an obstacle and then returning said guide means to initial position.

DESMOND WALTER Monins. FE'LIX FRE'DERIC RUAU. 

